Sprinkler



Oct. "20, 1936.

H. v. SKINNER SPRINKLER Filed Oct. 9, 1954 4 Shgets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR: HEN/Z) V 5K/NNEE WI TNESSES:

A TTORNEY Oct.'20, 1936. H. v. SKINNER SPRINKLER Filed Oct. 9, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm 1 QQ ww Q w v Q Q WC M R ,h a 0 Q Ms 4 k B a h I N QM v 3 mm WITNESSES:

INVENTOR: HENE'Y V5K/NNE/2 ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1936. H. v. SKINNER 2,057,851

SPRINKLER Filed Oct. 9, 1934' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR: HENRY VS/(INNEE BY I I e- ATTORNEY I :11 In 3% ILMHU w W Oct. 20, 1936.

H. V. SKINNER SPRINKLER Filed Oct. 9, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

'HE/VEY l/EK/NNEE iii .1;

W] TNES'SES:

A TTORNEY Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to sprinklers and has for an object to provide an improved type of sprinkler which will sprinkle automatically a large area in successive strips.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler having a regularly oscillating movement in one direction and a step by step swinging movement of the nozzle transversely of the first r swinging movement, whereby at each oscillation 19 of the device a difierent strip is sprinkled.

A further object of. the invention is to provide a sprinkling device which will automatically, from the water pressure, institute a rocking motion F of substantially the entire device rhythmically, d and a step by step oscillating movement of the nozzle in an arc transverse to the arc of rocking of the unit, whereby as the unit rocks a strip is sprinkled and at each rocking movement a different strip is sprinkled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler embodying a cylinder with a piston reciprocating therein, said reciprocations being motivated by the pressure of water by-passed from the sprinkler conduit, the piston having automatic means for reversing its movement, with connections whereby the reciprocation of the piston is translated into rocking movement of the cylinder and its associated parts, with a sprinkler nozzle rocking with the cylinder, and with means which is also controlled from the reciprocation of the piston for moving the nozzle with a step by step movement in an arc, the center of which transects the center of the arc of movement of. 35 the cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanical means for carrying out the several functional activities as above described.

The invention, therefore, comprises a cylinder 40 mounted to rock and with means for admitting water under pressure to the said cylinder to actuate the piston reciprocating therein. The said water being by-passed from a conduit communicating with a nozzle which also rocks withthe 45 cylinder, said nozzle having independent swinging motion on an arc, the center of which transects the center of. rocking of the cylinder and with mechanical means interposed between the piston and the nozzle whereby each reciprocation of the piston within the cylinder imparts a stepby step impulse to rock the nozzle upon its inde-- pendent axis.

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the,

55- invention, and the views therein are as follows:,

Figure 1 is a view of the device in end elevation,

Figure 2 is a view from the under as indicated by arrow 2 at Figure 1, showing arrow I as the position of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1 but with parts removed for the better understanding of the device,

Figure 4 is a View from the upper side of. the nozzle actuating mechanism being the side opposite that shown at Figure 1, V

Figure 5 is a sectional approximately diamet rical view of the diaphragm valve actuating mechanism,

Figure 6 is a view of one-half of the diaphragm casing and the valves actuated thereby as indicated by line 6-6 of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of one of the fittings as taken on line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The sprinkling device which forms the subject matter of this application comprises a back bone A made up of several sections. One section III is connected with the section I I by means of a sleeve I2. The section II is connected with the section I3 by means of a fitting I4 having a stufling box I5. The section II) is fixed to its frame by any approved means as the set-screw I6, and the section I3 in any approved manner, as by the setscrew II. The central section I I is, therefore, free to rock relative to the sections Ill and I3 by reason of the sleeve connection I2 at one end of the section I I, and the stufiing box I 5 at its opposite end. This back bone A for convenience is preferably mounted upon some type of carriage, here conventionally represented as the struts I8 and I9 with a connecting bar 20. As shown in the drawings, a cross shaft 2| is connected with the strut IB and bar 20, and serves to journal wheels 22. At the opposite end of the bar 20, a shoe 23 is shown as applied to the lower end of the strut I9. It is to be understood that such a mounting is convenient for a sprinkler device, but the invention is in no way limited to the carriage.

It will be noted, especially from Figure 3, that the section I3 of the back bone A is tubular as indicated more particularly at 24, and is provided with a threaded section 25 for hose attachment.

The fitting I4 is also provided with a stuffing box 26, with a member 2'! mounted revolubly therein, and carrying a goose-neck 28, terminating in a nozzle 29.

Opposite to the take-off of the member 21, a

nipple 30 is in communication with the fitting I4 at one end, and at its opposite end in communication with a strainer 3!. No particular novelty is claimed for the strainer, which at its opposite end communicates through the elbow 32 with a tube 33 which leads through the elbow 34 to the fitting 35. This fitting 35 is provided with a bore 36 (see Figure 7) receiving the section I! of the back bone to which it is secured in any approved manner, as by the set-screw 31. A curved passage 38 in this fitting communicates at 39 with the elbow 34 and at 49 with a nipple 4!. The fitting 35 is also provided with a bore 42 by which a rod 43 is fixed to the fitting 35, and, therefore, to the section I I of the back bone.

The rod 43 at its opposite ends connects the cylinder heads 44 and 45, serving not only to fix said cylinder heads to the back bone, but also to cooperate with the rod 46 to clamp the cylinder heads 44 and 45 in operative position upon the cylinder 41. By the structure just described, it is obvious that the cylinder is, therefore, rigidly fixed to the section II of the back bone A.

The cylinder 4'! is, of course, provided with a piston of conventional type carried upon a piston rod 48 which extends entirely through the cylinder, and is provided with stuffing boxes 49. At its opposite ends, the piston rod 48 is provided with brackets 58 and 5!, each of which has fixed thereto one end of cables 52 and 53, respectively.

These cables 52 and 53 are accommodated in arcuate furrows, 54 and 55 respectively, which are formed in a, pulley 56. As shown in the drawings, this pulley 56 is a segment with the ends of the cables 52 and 53 bent about the diametrical face, and connected at 5'! and 58, although it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the segmentalform of the pulley, or the means of attaching the cables thereto. This segment is fixed to the fixed section I8 of the back bone in any approved manner, set-screws 59 and 68 being shown for that purpose as merely a conventional means of fixing.

As the pulley 56 is fixed, it will be obvious that as the piston rod 48 reciprocates, the connection with the cables 52 and 53 over the arcuate surface of the pulley 56, will cause the cylinder to oscillate, carrying therewith all of the structure described as fixed to the section II of the back bone.

The nipple 4! is connected with the threaded section 6! of the valve housing 62 in which is mounted to reciprocate, a valve stem 63 having piston type valves 64 and 65 (see Figure 5) is adapted to reciprocate as shown at that figure to alternately place conduits 66 and 6'! in communication with the inlet at 6!. Bleeders 68 and 69 are alternately covered and uncovered by said piston valves 64 and 65.

The valve housing 62 also contains a second valve cylinder 18 perpendicular to the valve stem 63. In this latter cylinder is mounted a valve stem I! having spaced piston valves 12 and I3 adapted to alternately place conduits I4 and 15 in communication with the interior of the diaphragm housing 76 and alternately upon opposite sides of the flexible diaphragm 'I'! mounted therein.

This flexible diaphragm is provided with a stem I8 passing through a stuffing box I9, and provided with a pin 88, operating in a slot 8| of the lever 82 which is fulcrumed at 83 to a bar 84 which extends outwardly from and is rigidly connected to the diaphragm housing 16.

At its opposite end, the lever 82 is bifurcated as shown at 85 in Figure 1, and embraces a spool 86 connected with the valve stem 63 and made adjustable by means of the screw threads 81.

The valve stem II is likewise provided with a spool 88 which is engaged by the bifurcated end of an arm 89 fixed in any approved manner as by the set-screw 98 to a rod 9! which is mounted the rod 9| embrace the piston rod 48 upon op,

posite sides of the cylinder and the piston rod 48 is p iQvided with stops 98 and 99 arranged to engageagainst said arms 94 and 95, and made adjustable by means of clamping screws I88 and I8! so that said stops may be made to engage the arms 94 and 95 early or later in accordance with the reciprocation of the piston 48, whereby the rod 9! is reciprocated in its bearings, actuating, inturn the valve stem II carrying the valves I2 and 13. r

The rod 9! is also provided with spaced abutments here shown as pins I82 and I83 which reciprocate with the rod 9! and engage alternately upon opposite sides of the lever I84 which is ful crumed at I85, and carries a pawl I86 which engages the ratchet teeth I8I. of the cam wheel I88 which is journaled at I89. The journaling of said wheel and the fulcruming of said lever I84 being upon a block I I8 which is fixed to the section I I of the back bone in any approved manner, as by the set-screw III. This block III] has an arm II2 extending outwardly therefrom, and its end serves as a fulcrum at II3 for a lever II4 to' the opposite end of which is connected a link II5, This link H5 is pivoted at II6 to the block II"! which in turn is adjustably mounted upon the arm II8 attached to the member 21. V

The lever H4 is provided with a cam roller II9 which engages eccentrically located cam ribs I28 and I2! carried upon the cam wheel I88.

Tension upon the wheel I88is provided by the spring I22 having frictional engagement therewith.

The mechanism which has been described, it will be understood from the further explanation, will rock and have other movements, so that any figure that is shown in the drawings, as in any particular position, will only indicate that the mechanism may be at such position at some point in the cycle operation and any discrepancy which may seem to exist, between the positions of the moving parts and the carriage, is to be construed as dependent wholly upon the movability of the said parts and their consequent varying relative positions.

In operation a source of water under pressure, as for instance, a hose is connected at 25 and the water passes into the fitting I4 (see Figure 3) where the major part passes through the. gooseneck 29 and is discharged through the nozzle 29. A minor part of the water by-passes through the nipple 39, the strainer 3 I, the tube 33 to the fitting 35. This fitting 35 connects through the nipple 4! with the valve housing 62 and the valve housing in turn connects with the diaphragm hens-- ing I6. With the diaphragm positioned as shown at Figures 5 and 6, the pressure exerted upon the diaphragm is such as to have moved the stem 78.

conduit "66 in communication with the valve housing 62 so that the water pressure passes through said conduit 65 to the cylinder 44 and completion of the stroke of the piston. The movement of the piston has moved also the rod 9| which acting upon the piston stem 'II will move the piston in the direction opposite that shown at Figure 6 whereupon the space between the two valve pistons I2 and I3 will be moved to put the passage I5 in communication with the valve housing 62 and the water contained in the diaphragm housing will bleed through the passage I4, while the water pressure is exerted upon the opposite side of the diaphragm to move its stem outwardly to dotted line position as shown at Figure 5.

The movement of the lever 82 to the dotted line position will move the valve stem 63 and its associated valves also to dotted line position whereupon the conduit 61 will be placed in communication with the water pressure in the valve housing 62 and will, therefore, act within the cylinder 41 upon the piston to move it to the opposite limit of its movement while the water from the previously filled side of the diaphragm will bleed through the passage I2 and from the valve housing 62 will bleed through the bleed opening 68.

As is above explained, the movement of the piston within the cylinder operating upon and with the assistance of the cables 52 and 53 over the segment 55 will rock the cylinder and its associated parts upon the section I I of the back bone to the position shown in dotted lines at Figure 1.

The movement of the rod 9| will also actuate the lever I04 to move the pawl I06 and a step as measured by the ratchet teeth I01 to move the cam wheel I08 in the direction indicated by the arrow. The cams I20 and I2I carried by this cam wheel I08 will operate upon the cam roller H9 on the lever H4. Reference being had particularly to Figure 2 it will be noted that the, cam roller H9 is at its position nearest to the center of the cam wheel I08 and that, therefore, the said lever I I I through its link I I5 and connection with the sleeve 21 has moved the nozzle 29 to one extreme limit of its movement. As the cam wheel I08 rotates with a step by step movement actuated by the pawl I08, the cam roller and its connected lever H4 are swung in the direction indicated by the arrow to the other extreme of its movement which is identified by the end of the cam I20 opposite the position shown in Figure 2.

At that point, that is to say, diametrically opposite its position as shown at Figure 2, the lever I I4 is at the opposite limit of its oscillative move.- ment which has acted through the mechanism described to oscillate the nozzle 29 to the opposite extreme of its movement as indicated in dotted lines at Figures 3 and 4. It will thus be seen that at each oscillation of the cylinder and its associated parts, the spray from the nozzle 29 will describe an arc on a vertical plane, and that at the next oscillation, the cam wheel having been advanced one notch, the spray will follow a similar arc, but on a plane spaced from'the first mentioned plane, and that such step by step movement will tend to deliver the spray in successively parallel arcs forming upon the ground, strips of sprayed surface, the strips advancing as the nozzle is oscillated. After the point has been reached diametrically opposite that shown at Figure 2, the cam roller I I9 will be engaged by the inner surface of the cam I2I, and with the same step by step motion will return the cam roller to the position shown at said Figure 2 which will be one complete cycle operation.

Of course, the sprinkler herein described may be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the invention herein set forth and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A sprinkler comprising a supporting structure, a shaft mounted upon the structure and adapted to oscillate, a cylinder fixed to said shaft, a groove pulley fixed relative to the supporting structure, a piston mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder, a piston rod extending from opposite ends of the cylinder, cables from the opposite ends of said piston rod to and about said pulley, a nozzle mounted to oscillate with the shaft, and a conduit branched to communicate in part with the nozzle and with the cylinder.

2. A sprinkler comprising a supporting structure, a conduit mounted to oscillate about its axis on the supporting structure, means for oscillating the conduit including a cylinder and piston associated therewith, said piston having a shaft extending from each end thereof, a rod slidably carried by the cylinder, said rod having an arm extending therefrom at each end and which arms have extremities in close position to the shafts extending from the piston, abutment members carried by said shafts and adjustable thereon, said abutment members being adapted to engage said arms to cause reciprocation of said rod, spaced abutments on said rod, a lever pivotally mounted on said conduit and having one end positioned between said abutments, a pawl carried by said lever, a ratchet wheel pivotally carried by the conduit, the pawl engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel, a nozzle carried by said conduit and oscillatable with respect thereto, and operating connections between said ratchet wheel and nozzle whereby movement of the ratchet wheel causes oscillation of the nozzle with respect to the conduit.

3. A sprinkler comprising a supporting structure, a conduit mounted to oscillate about its axis on the supporting structure, means for oscillating the conduit including a cylinder and piston associated therewith, said piston having a shaft extending from each end thereof, a rod slidably carried by the cylinder, said rod having an arm extending therefrom at each end and which arms have extremities in close position to the shafts extending from the piston, abutment members carried by said shafts and adjustable thereon, said abutment members being adapted to engage said arms to cause reciprocation of said rod, the abutments being positioned close to the ends of the shafts removed from the piston, whereby said piston and shafts carried thereby are movable through the greater part of their stroke without causing any movement of said rod, the abutments engaging the arms only at the completion of each stroke, a ratchet wheel having a comparatively large number of teeth thereon pivotally mounted on the conduit, a lever also pivotally mounted on the conduit, a pawl carried by the lever and engaging the ratchet wheel, the free end of said lever being operatively connected to said rod, a nozzle oscillatable with respect to the conduit, and operating connections between the nozzle and ratchet wheel.

4. A sprinkler comprising a supporting struclatable with respect thereto, a cylinder and pis- 'ton carried by the conduit for oscillating the same, a ratchet wheel pivotally mounted on the conduit, a lever pivotally mounted on the conduit and having a pawl engaging the ratchet wheel, operating connections between the free end of the lever and the piston wherebt movement of the piston causes swinging movement of the lever, a nozzle carried by the conduit and oscillatable with respect thereto, an arm extending from the conduit, a lever pivoted to the arm at the free end thereof and having a cam'roller HENRY V. SKINNER. 

